04/09/2026
RØDE has launched the DS3, the successor to its widely used DS2 desktop studio arm. First shown at NAB Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, the DS3 is built for anyone working with heavier microphones, cameras or lights on a desk, from podcasters and streamers to musicians and gamers.
The biggest change from the DS2 is payload capacity, up from 900g to 1.5kg. That covers broadcast-grade XLR microphones such as RØDE’s own PodMic, along with large-diaphragm mics, cameras, smartphones and lighting accessories. An integrated ball head allows smooth, near-silent repositioning while recording or streaming, and a central locking mechanism holds the chosen angle in one motion.
Like its predecessor, the DS3 stands on a weighted base rather than clamping to the desk edge, so it can be placed anywhere on a flat surface without wobble. Cable clips keep XLR and USB leads tidy, and the arm ships with 3/8″, 1/4″ and 5/8″ thread adaptors for broad compatibility with microphones, cameras and lights.
The DS3 is available now in Classic Black, with a Crisp White finish to follow. Each finish gets its own acoustic isolation pad: black uses a soft-touch silicone pad built into the base, white uses natural cork on both sides.
